10 Surprising Health Benefits of Sex

The perks of sex extend well beyond the bedroom.
Being "in the mood" just might help your health.
How does a juicy sex life do a body good? Let's count the ways

1. Less Stress, Better Blood Pressure
Having sex could lower your stress and your blood pressure.
That finding comes from a Scottish study of 24 women and 22 men who kept records of their sexual activity. The researchers put them in stressful situations -- such as speaking in public and doing math out loud -- and checked their blood pressure.
People who'd had sex responded better to stress than those who engaged in other sexual behaviors or abstained.
Another study found that diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number of your blood pressure) tends to be lower in people who live together and have sex often.

2. Sex Boosts Immunity
Having sex once or twice a week has been linked with higher levels of an antibody called immunoglobulin A, or IgA, which can protect you from getting colds and other infections.
A Wilkes University study had 112 college students keep records of how often they had sex and also provide saliva samples for the study. Those who had sex once or twice a week had higher levels of IgA than other students.

3. Sex Burns Calories
Thirty minutes of sex burns 85 calories or more. It may not sound like much, but it adds up: Forty-two half-hour sessions will burn 3,570 calories, more than enough to lose a pound. Doubling up, you could drop that pound in 21 hour-long sessions.
"Sex is a great mode of exercise," Los Angeles sexologist Patti Britton says. It takes both physical and psychological work, though, to do it well, she says.

4. Sex Improves Heart Health
A 20-year-long British study shows that men who had sex two or more times a week were half as likely to have a fatal heart attack than men who had sex less than once a month.
And although some older folks may worry that sex could cause a stroke, the study found no link between how often men had sex and how likely they were to have a stroke.

5. Better Self-Esteem
University of Texas researchers found that boosting self-esteem was one of 237 reasons people have sex.
That finding makes sense to sex, marriage, and family therapist Gina Ogden. She also says that those who already have self-esteem say they sometimes have sex to feel even better.
"One of the reasons people say they have sex is to feel good about themselves," she says. "Great sex begins with self-esteem. If the sex is loving, connected, and what you want, it raises it."
Of course, you don't have to have lots of sex to feel good about yourself. Your self-esteem is all about you -- not someone else. But if you're already feeling good about yourself, a great sex life may help you feel even better.

6. Deeper Intimacy
Having sex and orgasms boosts levels of the hormone oxytocin, the so-called love hormone, which helps people bond and build trust.
In a study of 59 women, researchers checked their oxytocin levels before and after the women hugged their partners. The women had higher oxytocin levels if they had more of that physical contact with their partner.
Higher oxytocin levels have also been linked with a feeling of generosity. So snuggle up -- it might help you feel more generous toward your partner.

7. Sex May Turn Down Pain
Oxytocin also boosts your body's painkillers, called endorphins. Headache, arthritis pain, or PMS symptoms may improve after sex.
In one study, 48 people inhaled oxytocin vapor and then had their fingers pricked. The oxytocin increased their pain threshold by more than half, meaning they sensed pain at a higher threshold or were more tolerant of pain.

8. More Ejaculations May Make Prostate Cancer Less Likely
Research shows that frequent ejaculations, especially in 20-something men, may lower the risk of getting prostate cancer later in life.
A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that men who had 21 or more ejaculations a month were less likely to get prostate cancer than those who had four to seven ejaculations per month.
The study doesn't prove that ejaculations were the only factor that mattered. Many things affect a person's odds of developing cancer. But when the researchers took that into consideration, the findings still held.

9. Stronger Pelvic Floor Muscles
For women, doing pelvic floor muscle exercises called Kegels may mean more pleasure -- and, as a perk, less chance of incontinence later in life.
To do a basic Kegel exercise, tighten the muscles of your pelvic floor as if you're trying to stop the flow of urine. Count to three, then release.

10. Better Sleep
The oxytocin released during orgasm also helps sleep, research shows.
Getting enough sleep has also been linked with a host of other health benefits, such as a healthy weight and better blood pressure. That's something to think about, especially if you've been wondering why your guy can be active one minute and snoring the next.
By Kathleen Doheny
WebMD Feature
Best Wishes By WWW.PATTAYAPROSTATEMASSAGE.COM

Mam's news

About Hormone therapy for Prostate Cancer and Kidney Injury!!

Hormone therapy for prostate cancer may dramatically increase a man's risk of kidney failure, according to a new study.
Use of androgen deprivation therapy was tied to a 250 percent increase in a man's chances of suffering acute kidney injury, Canadian researchers found in a review of more than 10,000 men receiving treatment for early stage prostate cancer.

The study appears in the July 17 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Androgen deprivation therapy uses medication or surgery to reduce the amount of male hormones in a man's body, which can then cause prostate cancer cells to shrink or grow more slowly.

It is a therapy usually reserved for advanced cases of prostate cancer, said study co-author Laurent Azoulay, a pharmacoepidemiologist at Jewish General Hospital's Lady Davis Institute, in Montreal. Previous research already has linked androgen deprivation therapy to a possible increased risk of heart attack.

These new findings tying hormone therapy to acute kidney injury -- a rapid loss of kidney function with a 50 percent mortality rate -- should prompt doctors to think twice before using androgen deprivation therapy to treat prostate cancer patients at little risk of dying from the disease, said Azoulay, also an assistant professor in McGill University's department of oncology.

"There is a big debate over who should receive androgen deprivation therapy, and the timing of use," he said. "In patients whose prostate cancer has spread, the benefits outweigh the risk, but now there's this jump to using [androgen deprivation therapy] in patients who would not typically die from prostate cancer. In that subgroup of patients, the risks might outweigh the benefit."

Dr. Durado Brooks, director of prostate and colorectal cancers for the American Cancer Society, called the Canadian study "intriguing."

"They did find what would appear to be a fairly strong association between androgen deprivation treatment and acute kidney injury," Brooks said. "This is something that men and their clinicians need to be aware of and watching out for if they choose to go with androgen deprivation therapy as part of their treatment plan for prostate cancer."

However, Brooks also noted that the study relied on past medical data and did not involve current prostate cancer patients compared against a control group.

"These results are suggestive that an association may exist, but they are not definitive," Brooks said. "There will need to be other research looking at this."

For the new study, the research team identified 10,250 men who had been diagnosed with nonmetastatic (not spreading) prostate cancer between 1997 and 2008, using patient data maintained by the United Kingdom. Researchers then tracked whether each patient had been hospitalized with acute kidney injury, and whether their kidney failure occurred during or after the hormone treatment.

Prostate cancer patients who received androgen deprivation therapy were 2.5 times more likely to suffer kidney failure, the study found. Their risk of acute kidney injury particularly increased if they received a combined androgen blockade, a therapy that uses different hormone-suppression methods to drastically decrease male and female hormone levels in the body.

Both male and female hormones play a large role in kidney function, Azoulay said, which could explain why androgen deprivation therapy can cause such drastic damage to the organ.

"Testosterone and estrogen have been shown to play an important role in renal [kidney] function," he said. "It seems that testosterone has vessel-dilating effects, and estrogen has a protective effect against renal injury."

Thanks to information from Web MD
WebMD News from HealthDay
By Dennis Thompson
HealthDay Reporter
TUESDAY, July 16
Best Wishes by www.pattayaprostatemassage.com
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What Is Heart Disease?
Bring up heart disease, and most people think of a heart attack. But there are many conditions that can undermine the heart's ability to do its job. These include coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy, arrhythmia, and heart failure. Keep reading to find out what these disorders do to the body and how to recognize the warning signs

What Is a Heart Attack?
Every year, more than 1 million Americans have a heart attack -- a sudden interruption in the heart's blood supply. This happens when there is a blockage in the coronary arteries, the vessels that carry blood to the heart muscle. When blood flow is blocked, heart muscle can be damaged very quickly and die. Prompt emergency treatments have reduced the number of deaths from heart attacks in recent years.

Heart Attack Symptoms
A heart attack is an emergency even when symptoms are mild. Warning signs include:
• Pain or pressure in the chest
• Discomfort spreading to the back, jaw, throat, or arm
• Nausea, indigestion, or heartburn
• Weakness, anxiety, or shortness of breath
• Rapid or irregular heartbeats

Heart Attack Symptoms in Women
• Women don't always feel chest pain with a heart attack. Women are more likely than men to have heartburn, loss of appetite, tiredness or weakness, coughing, and heart flutters. These symptoms should not be ignored. The longer you postpone treatment, the more damage the heart may sustain.
Signs of Coronary Artery Disease
• A precursor to a heart attack, coronary artery disease or CAD occurs when sticky plaque builds up inside the coronary arteries. This narrows the arteries, making it more difficult for blood to flow through. Many people don't know they have CAD until a heart attack strikes. But there are warning signs, such as recurring chest pain caused by the restricted blood flow. This pain is known as angina

Inside a Heart Attack
• The plaque deposited in your arteries is hard on the outside and soft and mushy on the inside. Sometimes the hard outer shell cracks. When this happens, a blood clot forms around the plaque. If the clot completely blocks the artery, it cuts off the blood supply to a portion of the heart. Without immediate treatment, that part of the heart muscle could be damaged or destroyed.
Don't Wait to Be Sure
• The best time to treat a heart attack is as soon as symptoms begin. Waiting to be sure can result in permanent heart damage or even death. If you think you may be having a heart attack, call 911. And don't try driving yourself to the hospital. When you call 911, the EMS staff can start emergency care as soon as they reach you.

Sudden Cardiac Death
• Sudden cardiac death (SCD) accounts for half of all heart disease deaths in the U.S., but it's not the same as a heart attack. SCD occurs when the heart's electrical system goes haywire, causing it to beat irregularly and dangerously fast. The heart's pumping chambers may quiver instead of pumping blood out to the body. Without CPR and restoration of a regular heart rhythm, death can occur in minutes.

Arrhythmia: Erratic Heart Beat
• Regular electrical impulses cause your heart to beat. But sometimes those impulses become erratic. The heart may race, slow down, or quiver. Arrhythmias are often harmless variations in rhythm that pass quickly. But some types make your heart less effective at pumping blood, and that can take a serious toll on the body. Let your doctor know if you've noticed your heart beating abnormally.

Cardiomyopathy
• Cardiomyopathy is a disease involving changes in the heart muscle. These changes may interfere with the heart's ability to pump effectively, which can lead to a chronic condition called heart failure. Cardiomyopathy is sometimes associated with other chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure or heart valve disease.

Heart Failure
• Heart failure doesn't mean your heart stops working. It means the heart can't pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. Over time, the heart gets bigger to hold more blood, it pumps faster to increase the amount of blood moving out of it, and the blood vessels narrow. The heart muscle may also weaken, reducing the blood supply even more. Most cases of heart failure are the result of coronary artery disease and heart attacks.

Congenital Heart Defect
A congenital heart defect is one that's present at birth. The problem could be a leaky heart valve, malformations in the walls that separate the heart chambers, or other heart problems. Some defects are not found until a person becomes an adult. Some need no treatment. Others require medicine or surgery. People with congenital heart defects may have a higher risk of developing complications such as arrhythmias, heart failure, and heart valve

Testing: Electrocardiogram (EKG)
An EKG (also ECG) is a painless test that uses electrodes placed on the skin to record the heart's electrical activity. The test provides information about your heart rhythm and damage to the heart muscle. An EKG can help your doctor diagnose a heart attack and evaluate abnormalities such as an enlarged heart. The results can be compared to future EKGs to track changes in the condition of your heart.

Testing: Stress Test
The stress test measures how your heart responds to exertion. If you have an exercise stress test, you'll either walk on a treadmill or ride a stationary bike while the level of difficulty increases. At the same time, your EKG, heart rate, and blood pressure will be monitored as your heart works harder. Doctors use a stress test to evaluate whether there is an adequate supply of blood to the heart muscle.

Testing: Holter Monitor
A Holter monitor is a portable heart rhythm recorder. If your doctor suspects a heart rhythm problem, she may ask you to wear one for one or two days. It records the heart's continuous electrical activity day and night, compared with an EKG, which is a snapshot in time. The doctor will probably also ask you to keep a log of your activities and to note any symptoms and when they occur.

Testing: Chest X-ray
A chest X-ray is a picture of your heart, lungs, and chest bones that's made by using a very small amount radiation. Chest X-rays can be used to look for heart and lung abnormalities.
In this image, the bulge seen on the right side is an enlarged left ventricle, the heart's main pumping chamber.

Testing: Echocardiogram
An echocardiogram uses sound waves (ultrasound) to generate moving images of the heart. The test can assess the chambers and valves of your heart and how well your heart muscle and heart valves are working. It's useful in diagnosing and evaluating several types of heart disease, as well as evaluating the effectiveness of treatments.

Testing: Cardiac CT
Cardiac computerized tomography (known as cardiac CT) takes detailed images of the heart and its blood vessels. A computer stacks the images to create a 3-D picture of heart. A cardiac CT can be used to look for plaque or calcium buildup in the coronary arteries, heart valve problems, and other types of heart disease.
Testing: Cardiac Catheterization
Cardiac catheterization helps diagnose and treat some heart conditions. The doctor guides a narrow tube, called a catheter, through a blood vessel in your arm or leg until it reaches the coronary arteries. Dye is injected into each coronary artery, making them easy to see with an X-ray. This reveals the extent and severity of any blockages. Treatments such as angioplasty or stenting can be done during this procedure.

Living With Heart Disease
Most forms of heart disease are chronic. In the beginning, symptoms may be too mild to affect everyday life. And in many cases, long-term treatment can keep symptoms under control. But if the heart begins to fail, patients may develop shortness of breath, fatigue, or swelling in ankles, feet, legs, and abdomen. Heart failure can be managed with medication, lifestyle changes, surgery, and in certain cases, a heart transplant.

Treatment: Medicines
Medications play a huge role in treating heart disease. Some drugs help lower blood pressure, heart rate, and cholesterol levels. Others can keep abnormal heart rhythms under control or prevent clotting. For patients who already have some heart damage, there are medications to improve the pumping ability of an injured heart.

Treatment: Angioplasty
Angioplasty is used to open a blocked heart artery and improve blood flow to the heart. The doctor inserts a thin catheter with a balloon on the end into the artery. When the balloon reaches the blockage, it is expanded, opening up the artery and improving blood flow. The doctor may also insert a small mesh tube, called a stent, to help keep the artery open after angioplasty.

Treatment: Bypass Surgery
Bypass surgery is another way to improve the heart's blood flow. It gives blood a new pathway when the coronary arteries have become too narrow or blocked. During the surgery, a blood vessel is first moved from one area of the body -- such as the chest, legs, or arms -- and attached to the blocked artery, allowing it to bypass the blocked part

Who's at Risk for Heart Disease?
Men have a higher risk of having a heart attack than women, and at an earlier age. But it's important to note that heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women, too. People with a family history of heart ailments also have a higher risk of heart trouble.
Risk Factors You Can Control
High cholesterol and high blood pressure are major risk factors for heart disease. Being overweight, obese, or physically inactive all increase your risk. So does diabetes, especially if your glucose levels are not well controlled. Discuss your risks with your doctor and develop a strategy for managing them. There are many steps you can take to protect your heart

Smoking and Your Heart
If you smoke, your risk of heart disease is 2 to 4 times greater than a nonsmoker's. And if you smoke around loved ones, you're increasing their risk with secondhand smoke. Each year in the U.S., more than 135,000 people die from smoking-related heart disease. But it's never too late to quit. Within 24 hours of quitting, your heart attack risk begins to fall
Life After a Heart Attack
It is possible to regain your health after a heart attack. By avoiding cigarettes, becoming more active, and watching what you eat, you can give your heart and overall health a big boost. One of the best ways to learn how to make these changes is to take part in a cardiac rehab program. Ask your doctor for recommendations.

Heart Disease Prevention
The key to preventing heart disease is a healthy lifestyle. This includes a nutritious diet, at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week, not smoking, and controlling high blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes. If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation -- no more than one drink a day for women, two drinks a day for men. Ask your friends and family for help in making these changes. They'll benefit, too

Diet and Your Heart
What you eat makes a difference. Be sure you get plenty of whole grains, vegetables, legumes, and fruits to help keep your heart healthy. Plant oils, walnuts, other nuts, and seeds can also help improve cholesterol levels. And don't forget to eat fish at least a couple of times each week for a good source of heart-healthy protein

FEELINGS:

DURING Massage Therapy Session:
1) Clients are initially feeling scared, stressed, fear unknown.
2) Need to build up trust and confidence in therapist
3) This allows clients to relax
4) and open up to the treatment
5) Client than can enjoy the session

Note: We have above 95% success rate. The remaining 5% is usually due to medical complications on client’s side and we usually know this in pre- therapy consultation.

Prostate Massage

For hundreds of years prostate massage, or prostate milking, has been used as part of holistic oriental health practices for the pleasure it gives and for its therapeutic and medical benefits. The massage can be done both internally or externally. With the former it involves the insertion of a finger into the rectum, and with the latter the prostate is stimulated via the perineum, the area of the pelvic floor between the scrotum and anus, but is usually not so effective as the internal method.

Problems with the prostate usually affect men in their 50s or older, but younger men can also suffer from dysfunction, especially if it has occurred previously in the family, so you are never too young to be concerned about your prostate health. Older men, especially, should be aware of any swelling or infection of the prostate – an enlarged prostate, or Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) and prostatitis are very common. An enlarged prostate is also one of the main symptoms of prostate cancer, a rampant form of the disease. 80% of men will eventually develop an enlarged prostate, and 10% will succumb to prostate cancer. The more you know about your prostate, the better equipped you will be to keep it healthy, active and pain free.

A large proportion of the male ejaculate is produced by the prostate, and it is recommended that this fluid be drained frequently and, especially for men with a chronically inflamed or enlarged gland, milking is an ideal method to prevent the painful build up of seminal fluid.

Regular prostate massage is also an effective way to help prevent prostate cancer, and is good for the gland’s health in general. It can also help prevent or alleviate the effects of BPH. But for many men, prostate massage, both externally and internally, is a highly pleasurable form of sex play.

The external prostate massage keeps the whole area fresh and healthy by encouraging new circulation. By performing a short massage every morning you will help your blood flow easier through your prostate throughout the day.

The internal method is more invasive, and is regarded as being more effective than the external massage. For many heterosexual men, however, the idea of a finger being inserted into the anus, particularly with its gay connotations, raises serious concerns, and for these men the external method, either manually or with an external massage device, would be recommended.

Direct manual stimulation of the prostate is recommended for those with prostate problems. It is also the most pleasurable form of the massage. After inserting one or two fingers into the rectum, the prostate is located by massaging towards the perineum. The gland is walnut shaped and has a distinct texture. Your partner or therapist should start the massage using just light pressure, and you should communicate with him or her all the time as to how you are feeling. If it is painful or too tender, then reduce the pressure or stop the massage. Toys designed for prostate massage are also a good alternative to the manual method.

In addition to the health aspect, prostate massage can lead to a prostate orgasm, which is usually much more intense and longer lasting than a usual orgasm.

It is important to note that prostate massage is not recommended if you have prostate cancer – it may cause the cancer to metastasize. Also, if your prostate is infected, massage may spread the infection through the release of bacteria into the bloodstream, so caution is advised.